Saint Gobain (Gobban, Goban )was born in Ireland, though his exact place of birth is unknown, there are accounts in antiquities which link his origins to the North Antrim coast and possibly Glenshesk near Ballycastle where we find several references to Gobain and also a castle after his name.

Local historical accounts refer to his skills as a builder and that he was responsible for many buildings around the locality and along the coast including the church at Templastragh 'Temple of the Flame', above Portbraddon, County Antrim. Another church at Drumeeny in Glenshesk is also referenced as being built by him.

Gobain followed St. Patrick who baptised him, he was later ordained in Ireland and then went to live as a Benedictine monk and disciple of Saint Fursey at Burgh Castle in Suffolk. He accompanied and assisted the Abbott on his missions to spread the Gospel of Christ to the east coast of England. Later Gobain and Fursey both went to live at Corbeny in France before the Abbey was built there.

They settled and lived as hermits in the forests of Loan and finally at Oise. It was there that Goban founded another church and dedicated it to St. Peter, today it is called called Saint Gobain. The land on which it was built was given to Gobain by King Clotaire the III. Gobain died in 670AD after being attacked and beheaded by robbers or raiders at Le Mont d'Hermitage, the location now known as the town of Saint Gobain in France. The town and the famous glass it produces are both named after Gobain. The glass makers at Saint Gobain were founded in 1665.